Football Friday, Navy vs Notre Dame

The end of August marks one of our favorite times of year: The kickoff of college football season! More specifically, this time of year brings those cooler weather activities like cooking out and tailgating, hanging out with good friends at the stadium (or parking lot, or front yard) and cheering our favorite teams on to victory. Who can forget marching bands, drum corps, fighter jet fly-overs and those awesome pre-game chants? All these things make for the amazing tradition that is college football. Now that it’s here, we can hardly contain our excitement.

With the Navy Midshipmen taking on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame this weekend, we thought it would be appropriate to get the party started a little early with this toe-tapping tradition from the Midshipmen drum line.

These guys look so sharp, it’s hard not to smile and head-nod along to the beat, isn’t it? I have so many great memories of watching our marching band’s drum line perform in the field out back of the stadium before home games. Fifteen or 20 drummers would start out with a simple beat, then they’d build it up as more and more people gathered. Pretty soon there’d be a huge crowd gathered around to listen, cheer, and work themselves up into a frenzy before the game was even underway.

Whether you’re a huge fan or an occasional spectator, sports are a tremendous way to connect with people – whether sharing a stunning victory or a shocking upset, there’s nothing better than commiserating with friends both old and new at a football game (or any other type of game, for that matter). There’s something about being packed into a concrete bowl with thousands of other people wearing similar colored clothing and goofy hats that makes life worth living. It’s no wonder that listening to sports over the radio or watching over the internet has helped keep our soldiers connected and motivated while they serve overseas. People love that warm feeling of community and honoring that time-tested tradition known as “bragging rights” when their team defeats a longtime rival. (See also Army v. Navy or Oklahoma v. Texas)

If there’s someone special you’ve been meaning to get in touch with, there’s no better time than the present to reach out and let them know you’re thinking of them. Our Friend Finder is a great way to re-connect with fellow veterans or family members — you can even take the opportunity to brag about the scores from last nights’ game, if you’re so inclined. Taunt if you must, but remember — on any given Sunday, any team can win. At least, that’s what I heard.

You don’t have to go to college to appreciate college football, but if you’re on the fence about one school or another, check out their stadium and campus life. Most schools now have distance education programs, so you can take classes online that fit your schedule plus go down to campus and enjoy a ball game once in a while. It’s a win-win.

Speaking of win, who will you cheer for this weekend? Notre Dame or Navy? Have you listened to a game while serving overseas? What’s your favorite pre-game tradition? Will you watch a game with friends or family this weekend? Tell us about it below. And have a great Friday!